Alice was a stray, malnourished and pregnant when she wandered into a remote combat outpost in Western Afghanistan. Maj. Ravi Wagh of Waterford immediately made a connection with her and plans to bring her home to the U.S.

It was an ordinary day when a stray, malnourished and pregnant dog wandered into a remote Combat Outpost in Western Afghanistan.

The soldiers stationed there immediately took a liking to the medium-sized dog, nursing her back to health, and naming her Alice.

Alice became a guard dog -- protecting the soldiers against anyone in traditional clothing. Her aggressive tendency toward those individuals is a good thing, as it protected them from the enemy.

Advertisement

In Afghanistan, female dogs are not treated well and Alice, who is an unknown breed, would not have much of a chance for survival. She already had survived at least one Afghan winter, which involve harsh conditions.

Back home in the United States, political and economic factors called for the unit where Alice was staying to be redeployed home. The process of closing a Combat Outpost is time-consuming and it was very busy.

On the day before the unit was set to leave the Combat Outpost, a nearby unit tasked with providing combat advisers to Afghan Security Forces was at the outpost that was preparing to go home.

Maj. Ravi Wagh, 41, of Waterford who serves as a full-time member of the Michigan National Guard, found Alice alone in an empty tent. There are clear orders, Wagh said, that state they are not allowed to have pets.

After the unit was moved, Alice was picked up and brought to Wagh's outpost nearly 90 miles away because they knew her fate would not be good if she was left behind.

"We think she's probably 18 months to two years old at the most," Wagh said. "She would not have much of a chance getting out of here."

When Alice arrived on Sept. 20, 2012, she wandered around a bit, and then went into labor.

"She immediately gave birth to 10 pups, some of them we found (a home for with) a few of our Afghan partners ... we worked specifically with the Afghan border police to find them good homes," Wagh said.

The unit gave away eight of the puppies to people they trusted to take care of them and they were left with Alice and two puppies they named Samantha and Medusa.

Though Wagh cannot say when he will be returning home to his wife, Jenny and his three children Daya, Aidan and Tara, he knows he will be returning with Alice with him.

The other two dogs will be with other soldiers -- one in Milford and one in Taylor.

"I've always had a soft spot for strays. My mom, growing up we always have 5 or 6 strays," Wagh said. "We knew if we left them here, it'd be a pretty grim fate."

One of the soldiers found a nonprofit group called Nowzad, founded by a British Royal Marine. The group is dedicated to rescuing dogs in these situations in Afghanistan and getting them home to loving families.

The nonprofit works out of Kabul, giving the animals shots, microchips, getting them quarantined and other care. The dogs are currently being held at the shelter there.

"He has a staff and shelter with a veterinarian," Wagh said. "Soldiers will say 'we have a dog here, I don't wanna leave her,' (and the group will help)."

They also have partnered with the American Dog Rescue, which will help pay the expensive cost of getting the dogs back to the United States -- about $12,000, or $4,000 per dog.

"If this money goes above and beyond $12,000, all of that money goes to rescuing other stray dogs," Wagh said.

Though Wagh's wife, children, two dogs, cat and fish have not met Alice, he knows they will all love her.

"They're all fired up, they have been raising money ... they got her a little bed and they are prepared for it," Wagh said. "We've all agreed and we're just going to let her in and let her see the whole house."

Wagh is certain that Alice will have a great life and will be very loved in his house.

"I cannot imagine what the alternative would be if we had left her," Wagh said. "I've seen enough to know and I'm not willing to let it happen."

If all goes well, Alice will be flying home around the same time as Wagh.